Sex Pistols on Letterman late show

[@brucehartnell1475]

About ten years ago, I was walking in downtown Eugene, Oregon when I passed Luckeys, a really old local bar. It was a Monday night and sorta slow in town, but I looked at the poster in the window and it said “ The Stranglers”. I thought “ no fucking way”, so I go in and it’s the fucking stranglers playing to three other people- I made it the four. They play “ Peaches”, then Hugh says “ we have a guest with us and we’re gonna play some of his songs”. Up steps Glen Matlock, and they did a Sex Pistols set. It was the original stranglers except for the drummer, who was Clem Burke from Blondie. Amazing night, and I got to drink with them.

[@dad_jokes_4ever226]

Bloody hell !!!

[@mentari147]

still good

[@olivierbourbonnais328]

I love it when it happens by surprise. When I was a kid, I went out to a Goth dive bar and there was a guy from the Virgin Prunes On many occasion I saw some cool chaps and chapesses from various bands by occurrence and it felt great just like your story.

[@redghettosun]

Was it a secret, unannounced show? Eugene is not that big of a town but 3 people!

[@TheRobman]

That wasn't the Stranglers, it was Hugh Cornwell solo. He did a tour with Glen and Clem, I saw them do this in Chicago.

[@tz7813]

I actually think their mid 90’s comeback was ‘peak Pistols’. They sounded fantastic and were still young enough to carry it off.

[@mikeburgoyne9133]

Perfectly said

[@JonahsWail]

Makes sense, experience makes you better at whatever it is you’re doing.

[@carolecksit2947]

@@JonahsWail except for rock and roll

[@JonahsWail]

@@carolecksit2947 aye that’s true, I guess it depends. Some people age well, others not so much.

[@Davidjagoartist]

I agree, I heard the hyde park show on the radio in 96 and it got me into them because I thought they sounded amazing and loved the songs

[@briantruitt5218]

Steve Jones crunchy guitar tone is freaking amazing!

[@heygringo7]

absolutely!

[@kingcormack8004]

By Steve Jones' own admission he stole his style from Johnny Thunders.

[@heygringo7]

@@kingcormack8004 Borrow from the best

[@faradayfelix]

Jones's guitar sound on the albums was a combination of two guitar tracks played an octave apart, giving a solid wall of guitar sound. Simple, but hugely effective.

[@kencummings953]

​@@kingcormack8004he wasn't alone. Look at Greg Ginn from Black Flag

[@louismastrangelo3781]

Johnny’s hair looks like a MasterCard credit card

[@andy1179]

It was the filthy lucre tour after all ! Maybe a pun by Mr Lydon ?

[@louismastrangelo3781]

@@andy1179 That’s a good point

[@retlaw190]

Or McDonald Fires

[@bobo0202]

Johnny Rotten sold out

[@d1egosmusic]

Abahahhaha 💳

[@EverendeverGroup]

The ORIGINAL Sex Pistols with Glen Matlock!!!! Epic!!

[@killingheros3554]

Glan is an amazing bassplyer too.

[@raithebatou]

100 percent agree!

[@elenchus]

I wonder if he still liked the beatles lol

[@Obiniu]

@@elenchus Glen's affinity for The Beatles made him such a good songwriter responsible for most of the Pistols songs.

[@elenchus]

@@Obiniu I agree, I love the Beatles, I'm just jokin'. I doubt that the reason Matlock was kicked out was really because of his affinity for the Beatles

[@PauloCezarSouza-gc7jd]

Steve is a great guitar player. If Glenn Matlock stayed with the band they’d have lasted.

[@Frank-Discussion]

Agree!

[@AtomicMickey]

Yes, but who cares about quantity or what could have happened. They already reached mythological status with Sid Vicious. That's the reality, whoever likes it or not.

[@davidtomlinson907]

You should read Steve Jones' book. Lonely Boy. There was no way they'd have stayed together.

[@eugenemclemmont4045]

Not with Malcolm about they wouldn`t.

[@faradayfelix]

​@@AtomicMickeyUnfortunately, 'Sid' was all image and nothing else. Couldn't play bass, didn't play live. Just a face with spiky hair. That's his legacy.

[@ivanrainbird2416]

It still give goose bumps at 64 amazing i was 17 when bought the single

[@mariusbabii]

AND I'M 54 YEARS OLD AND STILL INTO PUNK, AND DRESS PUNK TOO 70S AND 80S STYLE ONLY,...i also like new wave(80s), metal,goth, rock, ska,..you know the cool stuff of the 80s,.......marius(punk rules).

[@peterericson8170]

​​@@mariusbabii But if you are 54, you missed out on punk.

[@punklesam94]

@@peterericson8170Dude, I’m 30 and well into the scene. Plenty of underground punk gigs are still going strong in this day and age. Punk is an ageless phenomenon…

[@peterericson8170]

@@punklesam94 Nice enough, Dude. But my answer aimed at "still into"; as anybody born in 1970 certainly missed all trains in 1976 and 77.

[@seanherron0330]

@@peterericson8170 SHUT IT

[@chetsacharko4147]

Never mind the bollocks essential album for every rock music fan!

[@runarhamre3152]

Punk! There is a difference..

[@chetsacharko4147]

@@runarhamre3152 punk what?punk ROCK?yeah...that's what I thought.

[@faradayfelix]

​@@runarhamre3152 It's punk rock.....a form of rock music. It's literally the title of the genre.

[@grahamfraser2150]

@@faradayfelix I didn't see Sid there.I hope he is well.

[@runarhamre3152]

@@chetsacharko4147 I was not trying to make you upset or anything, so lets play some Abba pop rock or some a-ha heavy rock and compare it to Ozzy and so on.. I am 61, when I was young there was rock, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis with rock and roll, and then. PUNK. With the first single I got, Ramones and she is a punk rocker, so yes, you got me..

[@RudyGaLLant]

Hells yeah! Steve Jones is firmly rock, call it punk if you want

[@merlinambrosius4398]

@@RudyGaLLant punk rock! 👌

[@lisahello382]

J'adore son jeu de scène.. Gestuelle de mime et de clown 🧡🔥🐼🎶

[@jamesheine2955]

I have that CD, and I saw this episode on TV that night in 1996. I later saw and met Glen Metlock himself in a university area bar/cafe in 2014. Cool gent.

[@baianobebe5701]

John Lydon cuts his own hair. In the dark. With a blindfold on.

[@PunkMonster]

If he's already in the dark, what does the blindfold do?

[@elenchus]

@@PunkMonster It's like how much more black could this be? And the answer is none. None more black.

[@violentshemp7776]

with crayola scissors

[@andrewwilson888]

Growing up in the '70s, the Sex Pistols rung true. This will always be relevant.

[@AZ-kr6ff]

Nah. They're pretty irrelevant now.

[@jumofi]

Thanks for giving us JOY DIVISION

[@MichaelSmith-mc8bd]

Amen.

[@patrickryan5570]

Filthy Lucre Live is a 1996 live album by the reformed Sex Pistols. The album was recorded live at London's Finsbury Park on 23 June 1996... I was at that gig - it was pretty awesome... Iggy Pop was a support act and he was fantastic.

[@bryanmajor9264]

I was there too, fantastic day👍

[@robgraham9947]

I was there too. What a day it was.

[@bertiodvonrastenburger1129]

Bloody brilliant mate.......

[@jackbrel]

The best version of Pretty Vacant EVER

[@MeanCommentz]

technically it is the same version they always played I think what you meant to say was best performance of Pretty Vacant ever which of course is a subjective opinion and not based in fact with absolutely no metric to qualify such a statement its moot really

[@jackbrel]

The rage in the vocal ...

[@muzzymuzzmuzz1]

It is. And i've watched hundreds of versions live. Tight as tight can be. Cook in the pocket. Matlock driving. Lydon raging. And Jones, well what can I say? One of the greatest, natural, yet modest rhythm players of all time. A brutal sound - certainly the definition, for me, of a rock n roll guitar tone. Other guitars sound like a wet fart compared to this. Why do you think Slash idolizes him? He's cranked up well high in the mix here, but it works without drowning out Matlock and Cook. Chuck Berry riffs all over the place. This ain't "punk" folks. It's pure rock n roll by the Sex Pistols. Punk came after. This sounds like Jones is playing a thousand Les Pauls, not one. And it is just magic.

[@dakinikiss]

agreed

[@PunkMonster]

Yeah, loads of energy in this particular performance.

[@navasaband]

Steve’s guitar tone is pure fire.

[@annstevens6223]

I really miss Letterman on NBC. The show was so much more spontaneous and exciting.

[@emmenneysuppliesandservices]

Johnny looks like Beaker of The Muppets Show. Or Beaker looks like Johnny?? 😳

[@batphink2655]

That friggin guitar sound is HUGE what tone Steve Jones has love these guys, shame they seem to love each other as currently in 2024 another bloke filling in for Jonny!

[@stevesmindcarnival673]

Great live performance of a classic Pistols track! I love drummer Paul Cook significantly speeding up the tempo of the song as soon as he kicks in at :27 in the video. You can see Steve Jones turn to look at him in surprise and Glen Matlock on bass just smiling as they have to speed up! Cook was amazing on that tour.

[@juanmakiki3242]

Cada vez disfruto más de tus videos!!!!! Está genial!!!!!

[@billyshane3804]

Johnny Rotten - Champion and Legend

[@MothGirl007]

I've always loved his singing - more of a PIL fan, but this is great.

[@rcampbell1981]

Was lucky enough to see them live at a festival in 2008, couldn't believe my luck. Of the hundreds of huge bands i've seen, these guys deserve their place at the top. Absolutely phenomenal.

[@danthegreaser71]

Great Performance! I wasn’t ever a big fan of the Pistols but I certainly respect what they did musically for punk. Too bad Sid isn’t still here with us. R.I.P

[@BlowersJason]

This band got me into punk, my second was the band SNFU🤘😜🤘

[@VictorianDarkwave]

Saw them play in LA on the Filthy Lucre tour at the palladium. Fantastic!

[@david-wall]

I was there!

[@markbarnes2238]

Checked out -- great job Freddie this was once theme music for a well known TV programme over in UK 🇬🇧

[@BigPoppa-t3z]

What a fking band.

[@normerxleben9882]

....right to the top of my playlist!

[@illiamdeebe7579]

Johnny never phoned it in that's for sure.

[@trombone7]

I like how with the thumbnail we got a snow miser, heat miser hair-theme going, (( "The Year without a Santa Claus" kids special 1974 ))

[@thorstenlangenbach25]

Awesome Cover. Thanx for playing in Hamburg ❤

[@garyconner6151]

When the band is just happy to be alive and together.

[@SAMcWaters]

I once got Radio Netherlands world service to play this on the last episode of the Happy Station.

[@Jkroger100]

Caught this tour in Detroit. Was freakin incredible!

[@katnip8228]

Now, that was a breath of fresh air! Awesome! 🤬

[@Ron-l9d]

Loving that guitar tone. It pure rock and roll.

[@tonygreen6185]

great to see them doing a great job belting out real rock n roll....

[@rodney3080]

I only wish they could get along enough to play these songs together again, time doesn’t stop and it will become too late…. Much Love!

[@chadgeissler4544]

I saw them at the Hollywood Palladian this same year. It was an amazing show. The raw energy was something I've never felt at any other show in my life since. The entire platinum floor was a giant circular mosh pit.

[@JohnKuhles1966]

John Joseph Lydon (born 31 January 1956), also known as "Johnny Rotten" 68 years old !!!

[@thestrengthwithin4249]

Looked like a very proud gentleman 🫡 And a good dedicated family man,with a great happy smile 😃 lovely tribute Rip Terry 🫡

[@fabwax8812]

Glen Matlock's bass tone is fucking KILLER

[@EricvanDorp007]

Growing up in the 70/80s this was energy, now listing to Viagra boys in 2024

[@karl-heinzhirseman6264]

I like Steve Jones: "I'm a freedom fighter"! Here we go! 💙✌️💙☀️💙👏💙👍💙🇩🇪💙

[@Itelkner]

He's fighting for freedom from bland music, with that rippin' guitar!

[@pakalmaison]

the sound of the bass is awesome

[@ubuntufrank]

Amazing.

[@robsilvester3068]

And they call green day punk !!

[@jamesheine2955]

Punk? Green Day isn't even 'filthy lucre, they are JUNK.

[@stephenstone8480]

Imitation punk...

[@johnoleary8751]

Even funnier,they called ramones punk 😅😅

[@shannonschaerer1010]

I'll give ya that now, but a lot of their EARLY stuff WAS really good & I'd classify THAT as punk. Even 1/2 of Dookie was good. They have some true punk songs thru the yrs, but they HAVE become more and more "punk-pop" as time has passed, & haven't put out a decent album in a LONG time, but at one time - they WERE a punk band. Just my opinion.

[@frogmantoad8110]

Any band that plays with a symphony is not punk.

[@simondavies6606]

It's The Pistols on the Pil. Not into reformations.

[@Maxdeexx]

More than music ! Crazy

[@danmercado2771]

Saw them on this tour, glad that Glen was part of it

[@Seinteressavem]

Pistols without Sid are too much better. They are sounding excellent. A unity. Amazing.

[@revwillyg6450]

Sid was awful. Jonesy played guitar and bass on the album

[@71rambler]

Now THAT'S Rock and Roll!!

[@alanarmer8069]

Fantastic 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@Itelkner]

I've read online where some Steve Jones fans insist that the big Pistols guitar sound can only be gotten with a Les Paul Custom, because of the way it's constructed, but here he is getting it with the blue LP Standard he used on the '96 reunion tour.

[@augustusbetucius2931]

Yeah, that's bullocks. That LP Custom sound is going to vary depending on the room, the soundman, even the voltage the amp is getting. Guitar construction affects the sound, but *not* that much. There are way too many variables to just pin it on the guitar. So yeah, what those people said is total BS. As you can hear for yourself right here in this video.

[@Itelkner]

@@augustusbetucius2931 Yeah, I know, many variables other than just the guitar. The thing about the Custom is, the thick body seems to create a certain amount resonance in the core tone. A rich sound, and I've heard some comparisons. The heavier Standards, 10 lbs. and up are probably more or less the same guitar in this way. Anyway, there's footage of Jonesy playing a borrowed Strat through a Twin with the Nothings and still getting a nice full sound, so a lot of it's in Steve's playing. A little different tone, but still recognizably Jonesy.

[@thirdcoast5755]

I read he had two amps facing each other with a mic in the middle. I seem to remember something about a fan being involved too, but i could be misremembering that.

[@Capnglogs]

Singing it as pill

[@B1keN3rd]

Badass! Cool slide show

[@samuelmay4823]

Johnny's always looks perfect!!!!!!

[@darrylshields6148]

I remember seeing them at Joe Louis arena in Detroit on the Filthy Lucre tour with Gravity Kills and Stabbing Westward. Strange lineup of bands, but it was awesome

[@joliewolfeaune6691]

The king is gone but he’s not forgotten Johnny rotten Rotten Johnny

[@jonnyb12]

What a performance! Lydon's voice is excellent.

[@kingcormack8004]

"Ever feel you been cheated?"

[@adamfindlay7091]

Best punk lyric. Jonesy got style for miles should be on GQ for decades.

[@CarlosCruz-bf9gu]

Nos anos 90 eles vieram para o Brasil eu estive lá, valeu ter esperado cerca de 20 anos !!

[@jamesrowe3606]

John channelling The Night King in the thumbnail.

[@Cutja66]

He is the Mastercard!

[@ChaosDevin]

What a loophole, he can say the big C-word on national television due to his British accent! Love it!

[@johndavis48076]

I like to record a quick 30 second of my favorite songs. Do it while my eyes are still on the performance. Nice to have a snippet of a show.

[@Atitlan1222]

What was Letterman's band going to play after that performance?

[@rockhopper01]

Probably something 90’s edgy like Foo Fighters.

[@Itelkner]

I don't about the song at the end. But when the Letterman band came back from commercial before the Pistols played, they were playing "London Calling." When they stopped, Lydon yelled into the microphone, "That'll be enough of THAT rubbish!"

[@BBlooger]

Some Steely Dan.

[@jivesideproductions]

they played sly and the family stone’s “sex machine”, a funky down-tempo instrumental. a perfect choice 🤘

[@mauriciom.jr.1829]

Nice new wave pants Johnny.

[@michaelgierula1740]

And, THEY DON'T CARE! nEvER MiND the BoLLOCKS...

[@BHead66]

The only band I regret never seeing live 😢 rip boys

[@urareknaw]

Flogging it ❤️ You guys changed the world

[@josuemendez3358]

Rifada vera farmiga chulada de voz y guapisima ella Ahora ya tienes un fan mas en México ✌️😅

[@periurban]

I had completely forgotten about this. They got so little love in the UK, it was hardly mentioned.

[@RealEarlofEssex]

Jones’ guitar sounds like a building coming down. 🎸

[@istaphobe]

A nice reminder of days that we’re both past and awesome. Even for ‘92 to 24.

[@nigelcarren]

"Its all attitude!" The philosopher Cosmo Kramer 🇬🇧❤️🇺🇲

[@manskullman6509]

Perfect version of their own song ! Long live these men ! ❤ jon fisher

[@paulsage6849]

Absolutely top notch, what a sensational performance!

[@garytompkins2116]

Strong 'Talking Heads' vibe

[@wildlife4984]

The cartoon version of the pistols. Sugar sugar.

[@NBM3]

WHAT A KILLER BAND !! DESTROYING !!!!! And they even seem to be enjoying themselves !!

[@carloslozada470]

Great stuff man

[@scott7521]

Great performance!

[@robr5786]

Same yr the Ramones retired,Sex Pistols reunited

[@mickmrowan]

Awesome performance. Top notch.

[@Jimbowlcoach]

Johnny Rotten gives me chills! He’s so gooooooooood!

[@paullee3660]

Wow! This is great to see. Glad to see Glen on bass and not some Sid-alike geezer.

[@garycook5071]

Saw them for this tour in Finsbury Park

[@violentshemp7776]

best tone ever

[@jeffmurray6219]

John is an absolute top bloke.

[@dadcooks1347]

Nothing better than paying $100 for a ticket and then watching the event through a 3 inch screen. Muppets.

[@markstott8864]

Absolutely fantastic.

[@BL0HARD]

You can watch your favourite artists on KZbin anytime but when you’ve got the opportunity to see them live you’re missing out on the moment by watching them through your phone screen trying to film them. Take a few photos to show people at work the next day but we need to take Mr Caves advice here.

[@alekseialekseevic3541]

Вишез - мёртв, а ты ещё крепкий старик Розенбом

[@drcobra-dc6uy]

fantastic. compare this too their silly frank carter shows..btw i ve seen them in the 90 s..and..2006..

[@rudy6884]

And now Sir John is a trumpateer.

[@muiravenue7182]

That was Mint the Guitar was just Awesome